Oral care compositions with a reduced bitter taste perception

Abstract

An oral care composition with reduced bitterness containing polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, and/or polyquaternium-18.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An oral care composition with reduced bitterness comprising:
 a. a polyquaternium selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, polyquternium-18, and combinations thereof; 
 b. a fluoride compound; 
 c. a metal salt;
 wherein the oral care composition is a dentifrice. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The oral care composition of  claim 1  further comprising hops. 
     
     
       3. The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the fluoride compound comprises stannous fluoride. 
     
     
       4. The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein the metal salt comprises zinc. 
     
     
       5. The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein an overall bitterness is reduced by at least about 25% as compared to an identical composition without the polyquaternium as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
       6. The oral care composition of  claim 1  wherein an overall bitterness is less than about 6000 fluorescence units as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
       7. The oral care composition of  claim 1  further comprising an abrasive polishing material. 
     
     
       8. The oral composition of  claim 1  further comprising a surfactant. 
     
     
       9. The oral composition of  claim 1  further comprising a bleaching agent. 
     
     
       10. The oral care composition of  claim 1  further comprising a flavor or a flavor component. 
     
     
       11. An oral care composition with reduced bitterness comprising:
 a. a polyquaternium selected from the group consisting of polyquaternium-2, polyquaternium-17, polyquternium-18, and combinations thereof; 
 b. a bitter agent wherein the bitter agent is a fluoride ion source selected from the group consisting of stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, fluorophosphates, amine fluoride, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
       12. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein the oral care composition is selected from the group consisting of dentifrice, mouthwash, whitening gel, denture cream, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition further comprises an additional bitter agent wherein the additional bitter agent is an antimicrobial agent selected from the group consisting of cetyl pyridinium chloride, hops, zinc salt, peroxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The oral care composition of  claim 13 , wherein the antimicrobial is the zinc salt selected from the group consisting zinc chloride, zinc citrate, zinc oxide, zinc oxalate, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition further comprises an additional bitter agent wherein the bitter agent is a solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene glycol, sorbitol, glycerin, xylitol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein the composition further comprises an additional the bitter agent wherein the additional bitter agent is a surfactant selected from the group consisting of sodium lauryl sulfate, cocoamidylpropyl betaine, alkyl phosphates, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       17. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein the fluoride ion source comprises stannous fluoride. 
     
     
       18. The oral care composition of  claim 11  further comprising a flavor or a flavor component. 
     
     
       19. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein an overall bitterness is reduced by at least about 30% as compared to an identical composition without the polyquaternium as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors. 
     
     
       20. The oral care composition of  claim 11  wherein an overall bitterness is less than about 7000 fluorescence units as determined by the in vitro Assay for Taste Receptors.